Isaiah Austin’s basketball career ends because of genetic condition

Former Baylor standout center Isaiah Austin’s basketball career is over several days before the NBA Draft when doctors have diagnosed he suffers from Marfan syndrome.

Marfan syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to problems in connective tissues throughout the body. One feature of Marfan syndrome is aortic enlargement, which can be life-threatening. According to The Marfan Foundation, about one in 5,000 people have Marfan syndrome.

Some athletes have died on the court as a result of Marfan syndrome and associated aortic problems, among them noted Olympic volleyball standout Flo Hyman.

Austin underwent a standard physical at the NBA combine where his EKG test revealed an abnormality. After subsequent genetic tests, his results came back positive for Marfan syndrome with the recommendation that Austin immediately end his basketball career.

Austin, a 7-foot-1 sophomore from Arlington, played two seasons for the Bears. He revealed during his sophomore season that he is blind in his right eye as a result of a detached retina suffered as a teenager.

Despite that condition, he was projected as a potential late first-round draft pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. He has been invited to the draft as a special guest by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

“This is devastating news, but Isaiah has the best support system anyone could ask for, and he knows that all of Baylor Nation is behind him,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “His health is the most important thing, and while it’s extremely sad that he won’t be able to play in the NBA, our hope is that he’ll return to Baylor to complete his degree and serve as a coach in our program.”

During his Baylor career, he played in 73 games, averaging 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots. He finished his Baylor career tied for second on the school’s career blocked shots list.

He led the Big 12 with 119 blocks in his sophomore season and averaged 13 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, helping lead the 26-12 Bears to a trip to the Sweet 16 before losing to Wisconsin in the West Region semifinals.

Austin averaged 11.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a freshman as a key performer on Baylor’s 2013 NIT championship squad.